Cricket

Afghanistan and Bangladesh will face off in the second ODI of their three-match series in Sharjah on Monday, November 9. Afghanistan holds a 1-0 lead after a convincing victory in the series opener.In the first ODI, Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi played a crucial role with an impressive 82, helping his team post a competitive total. Allah Ghazanfar then starred with the ball, claiming six wickets to secure a 92-run victory.Ahead of the second ODI, Nabi announced his retirement from the ODI format after the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has suffered a setback with the loss of Mushfiqur Rahim, who sustained a fracture on his left index finger in the series opener. He will miss the remaining ODIs.

Pakistan's Saim Ayub has emerged as a rising star in the cricketing world, showcasing his exceptional batting skills in the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide. His remarkable six over the fine-leg fence, reminiscent of Indian legend Yuvraj Singh, left Australian pacer Mitchell Starc bewildered.Ayub's innings of 82 runs off 71 balls played a pivotal role in Pakistan's comprehensive nine-wicket victory. The 23-year-old opener, along with Abdullah Shafique (64 not out off 69), forged a formidable opening partnership of 137 runs, laying the foundation for Pakistan's triumph.Ayub's six in the 12th over was a sight to behold. He swiftly gauged the length ball and shuffled across to flick Starc over the fine-leg fence with impeccable timing. The flair, flamboyance, and follow-through of the shot drew comparisons to Yuvraj Singh, a renowned six-hitter in the white-ball format.Pakistan's bowling attack, led by Haris Rauf's fiery spell of 5 for 29, restricted Australia to a mere 163 runs. Rauf's pace and accuracy proved too much for the Australian batsmen, who were dismissed in just 33.5 overs.The victory leveled the three-match series at 1-1, setting up an exciting decider in Perth on Sunday. Ayub's performance has not only earned him praise from cricket pundits but has also raised expectations for his future in international cricket.

Pakistan faces an uphill battle to keep the ODI series against Australia alive when they clash at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. Despite a valiant effort in the first game, Pakistan fell short of an improbable victory and will need to regroup and find a way to overcome their poor record against the Aussies.Pakistan's bowlers, led by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, impressed with their fiery pace and short-pitched tactics at the MCG. However, they will need to adjust their approach on the smaller Adelaide Oval, where boundaries are easier to come by. A disciplined line and length will be crucial against Australia's explosive batting lineup.Australia, on the other hand, will be looking to wrap up the series and give their Test stars a final hit-out before the upcoming series against India. Skipper Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne will all be eager to make a statement before the red-ball battle.While Australia's batting was not entirely convincing in the first game, they will be confident of putting up a strong total on a ground that favors batsmen. Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will be vying for a spot in the XI, with Short having the edge after his recent performances against England.Pakistan's batting, on the other hand, struggled in the challenging conditions at the MCG. Babar Azam was the lone bright spot, showcasing his class with an elegant 37. He will be key to Pakistan's hopes of posting a competitive total.Josh Hazlewood is expected to return to the Australian lineup, replacing Sean Abbott. Pakistan may also consider playing a frontline spinner in Adelaide, given Naseem Shah's cramps in the first game.Despite its reputation as a batting paradise, the Adelaide Oval has been tough to bat on in recent times. However, the surface is usually flatter for white-ball cricket, and the short square boundaries will encourage aggressive batting.Pakistan will need to defy history and overcome their poor record against Australia to keep the series alive. They will need to find a way to contain Australia's explosive batting lineup while also posting a competitive total of their own.

Alzarri Joseph's Bizarre Exit Overshadows West Indies' Series-Clinching VictoryIn a bizarre turn of events, West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph abruptly left the field during the third ODI against England at Kensington Oval, Barbados. The incident occurred early in the innings after Joseph bowled his second over, despite taking a wicket in it.The disagreement between Joseph and captain Shai Hope began after the first delivery of Joseph's over, when they had an extended discussion about field placement. England were at 10/1, and Joseph appeared frustrated with the field setup, specifically pointing toward the slips in visible frustration.Despite the apparent tension, Joseph continued to bowl and delivered a 148.2 kph short ball, which resulted in the dismissal of England's Jordan Cox, who gloved the ball to the wicketkeeper. However, rather than celebrating the wicket, Joseph left the field without speaking to Hope after completing a wicket-maiden.West Indies coach Darren Sammy attempted to calm Joseph outside the boundary, but the fast bowler remained adamant and went to sit in the dugout. After a brief sit-out, Joseph rejoined the match without further incident, but he resumed bowling later in the 12th over only.Joseph finished with figures of 2 for 45 in his 10 overs, as England posted 263/8 in their 50 overs. The unusual episode did not affect West Indies' overall performance, as they cruised to an eight-wicket victory. Keacy Carty (128*), and Evin Lewis (102) led the successful run chase, reaching the target with 42 balls to spare, sealing a series win for the hosts.The incident between Joseph and Hope remains a talking point, but the West Indies’ dominant performance overshadowed the controversy on the field.

In the decisive third ODI of the series, West Indies captain Shai Hope opted to bowl first after winning the toss at Kensington Oval. Both teams were eager to secure a rare ODI series victory.West Indies made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph in place of Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph. Hope expressed uncertainty about the playing surface, stating, "We're not sure what we're going to get. Got to assess the conditions as a bowling group and put them under pressure."England also made two changes, with Reece Topley and Jamie Overton replacing John Turner and Saqib Mahmood. Overton, who has been playing as a specialist batter, was seen marking out his run-up before the toss. England captain Liam Livingstone echoed Hope's sentiments, saying he would have also chosen to bowl.West Indies had taken a 1-0 lead in the series with a rain-affected victory in the first ODI in Antigua. However, England bounced back in the second match, chasing down 329 at the same ground.Both teams have had limited bilateral ODI cricket in the past year. West Indies defeated England 2-1 in December, but subsequent series losses in Australia and Sri Lanka have hindered their progress in the rankings. England's last series win came against Ireland in September 2023.

Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, elected to bat first after winning the toss against Bangladesh in the opening ODI in Sharjah. The decision marked the debut of left-handed opening batter Sediqullah Atal, who replaced the injured Ibrahim Zadran. Atal has previously featured in six T20Is.Afghanistan's lineup included four spin-bowling options: legspinners Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, and offspinners Mohammad Nabi and AM Ghazanfar. Fazalhaq Farooqi served as their sole frontline quick, with Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib providing support.Bangladesh, on the other hand, faced the absence of key players Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and Tanzim Hasan due to various reasons. Nasum Ahmed and Nahid Rana were also unavailable for the match. Their team featured three frontline pacers in Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam, along with two spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain.Afghanistan entered the series with momentum from their 2-1 victory over South Africa in September, while Bangladesh had not played an ODI in eight months. This match also marked Bangladesh's first ODI in Sharjah in 29 years.

AFG vs BAN Live Updates: Afghanistan Aim to Extend Winning Streak in First ODIAfghanistan and Bangladesh will lock horns in the first ODI of a three-match series in Sharjah on Wednesday, with both teams eager to make a statement. Afghanistan, buoyed by their recent ODI series triumph over South Africa, will be confident of extending their winning streak. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing Test series defeat against the same opponents.Afghanistan have made Sharjah one of their home grounds, giving them a significant advantage in terms of familiarity with the conditions. They will be led by experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, who has been in impressive form of late. Other key players to watch out for include opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, middle-order batsman Hashmatullah Shahidi, and spinner Rashid Khan.Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be without their star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently serving a suspension. In his absence, Liton Das will lead the team and will be hoping to set the tone with a strong performance at the top of the order. Other key players for Bangladesh include opener Tamim Iqbal, middle-order batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, and pacer Mustafizur Rahman.The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both teams possessing a blend of experience and youth. Afghanistan will be aiming to continue their winning ways and consolidate their position as a rising force in ODI cricket. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be determined to prove that they are still a formidable opponent and can challenge the best teams in the world.

Former Pakistan cricket star Basit Ali has drawn parallels between the expectations placed on Babar Azam by Pakistani fans and the demands Indian supporters have for Virat Kohli. Ali believes that despite Babar's promising performance in the first ODI against Australia, where he scored 37 runs, Pakistani fans will always expect more from their star batsman."Babar Azam looked in good form today. His way of playing was top-class. Unfortunately, he played Adam Zampa off the back foot on a ball that he should have played on the front foot. His foot movement and how hungry he was for runs were good signs," Ali said in a YouTube analysis.However, Ali emphasized that Pakistani fans will not be satisfied with a mere 37-run knock from Babar. "Our people won't be happy with 37 runs, they want Babar to score 137. Similarly, the Indian fans aren't satisfied with Virat Kohli's 70-run knock, they want 170 from him. So, this is the case with a big player that there's no value if he scores a 50," Ali explained.Meanwhile, Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf acknowledged that his team made mistakes in their opening ODI against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Despite a strong start from Australia, Pakistan fought back with wickets from Rauf and Shaheen Afridi. However, Australia ultimately secured a narrow 2-wicket victory."We were all trying our best, whether in the field or with the ball. We had a plan to bowl short from my end. We had success; we took a few wickets this way," Rauf said.Pakistan's loss marks Australia's 27th victory in 28 completed matches at home across all formats. The second ODI of the three-match series will be played on Thursday, January 12, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have retained six players ahead of the 2025 auction, including Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh. Notably, KKR released their star fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who became the costliest buy in IPL history in 2024.Starc expressed surprise at not being retained, stating that he had not received any communication from the franchise. He acknowledged that franchise cricket is unpredictable and that all players, except for the Hyderabad duo of Pat Cummins and Travis Head, will be available in the auction.Meanwhile, Starc has achieved a significant milestone in his international career, becoming the fastest bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets in Australia. He surpassed legendary compatriot Brett Lee's record by achieving the feat in just 54 innings. Starc's impressive performance in the first ODI against Pakistan, where he took three wickets for 33 runs, contributed to his achievement.In the match, Pakistan struggled to build partnerships, with only skipper Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam managing significant scores. Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi provided some resistance, but Australia's bowlers, led by Starc, restricted Pakistan to 203/10.In response, Australia lost early wickets but recovered through an 85-run partnership between Steve Smith and Josh Inglis. Pakistan's bowlers fought back, but Cummins' unbeaten 32 guided Australia to victory with over 16 overs to spare. Starc was named 'Player of the Match' for his bowling performance, and Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series.